Apple has released iTunes 10.5, adding "iTunes in the Cloud" support in preparation for Wednesday's scheduled launch of the long-gestating iCloud service and iOS 5 mobile-device operating system – and downloading previously purchased songs is already up and running.
As Apple noted in its announcement of the October 12 launch …

In the uk

Sarcasm, I hope ?!

So... we can now re-download tunes you have already purchased. Woopidy doo. When I first installed iTunes many years back, I was AMAZED that this wasnt supported. It removes (almost) the need to perform local backups of purchased music as you can now just grab it again, so its good news. But why has this taken so long ?

iTunes Match - now there IS a good service that I will be making use of if it arrives in the UK. I have a lot of music from Uni days that would benefit from this 'consolidation'! :)

Question for Apple users

In actual fact you've only ever *needed* to use iTunes to activate the device for first use and to perform firmware upgrades, but this revision will remove both of those requirements.

Personally it was the activation thing that I always thought was the most strange, I've no real problem with having to connect any mobile to a computer in order to do a firmware upgrade, it's not like I don't do that for other stuff anyway.

Grrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!

@JDX

push ?

Will this now also wirelessly push new downloaded content, and resync selected tracks etc, to all devices when they are plugged in ? I remember this being talked about, but not sure when it was actually going to land....

Trolling?

half working

(I'm in England) iTunes said under help>check for updates at around 1AM that 10.5 was available. however, on clicking download, nothing happened. Apple software update told me nothing was available. so, i connected to a US VPN and apple software update then said it was available, so i updated it (understanding that this could cause regional problems). At first, only books and apps would show (just like before) in previous purchases. then, music finally appeared. however, it failed at re-obtaining any of my music. when i returned home this evening, i ran the itunes installer and selected 'repair'. then, previous music purchases would download (not sure if the repairing fixed it or it was just an apple issue early on). As others have said, TV shows still not showing in the UK. This is a real pain, and I really do hope that TV shows are 'allowed' (what, do Apple have some dodgy deals with networks detailing how shows can be distributed??) in the UK very soon :/ (I had to delete seasons worth of TV shows from my iPod before syncing to clear space a few years back)

Apple's $24.99-per-year service that allows you to upload non-purchased tunes onto iCloud and share them among your authorized devices - is not yet available, but look for it soon.Apple doesn't note in which geographies iTunes in the Cloud is currently working – only that "Features may vary by country" – but UK-based Reg readers have pointed out that it is as of yet a no-show in Blighty. <a href="http://www.iphonereleases.com/">iPhone 5 Release Date</a>